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The PSP Loves The Internet And The Internet Loves The PSP!
Wow my article on reading web comics on the PSP was on Wired News, BBC News, Wiki News, Slashdot, Reuters, SiliconValleyWatcher. and a whole bunch of blogs. That is super cool so I guess I need to actually write content for this site consistently.
I don't think that downloading and transferring web comics to the PSP is really considered a hack. I mean it is not like you are hacking the BIOS and installing Linux on it? Sony is cool with you viewing your own JPEGs, MP3s and Video clips on the PSP. I am damn glad to see other applications being developed for the PSP but the only real PSP hacks that I have seen is actually using the embedded web browser in Wipeout Pure for the rest of the web and developing an IRC program and web portal for it. Here is hoping that all this media attention on the possibilities of non game uses on the PSP will show Sony that there is a real demand for a real OS and web browser for the PSP.
The thing that is really holding back video on the PSP is the lack of a hard drive and the high cost of flash memory in Sony's Memory Stick Duo.
So I have a feeling in my gut that Sony is going to announce a network disk disk with web applications at E3 or some other show. Here is what I would expect from such an disk.
1.A firmware update to enable new network applications for the PSP.
2.A real web browser that supports, HTML, XHTML, XML, Text files, Some CSS, Forms, 128-bit encryption, bookmarks, Multi-language support, GIF, JPEG, PNG, an on-screen keyboard, They could either hire Opera, Planet Web (they made the Dreamcast web browser and a Japan only PS2 web browser)or Mozilla Minimo but I doubt that we would see Pocket Internet Explorer on the PSP. This could be used to read downloaded text files, HTML files and it could add support for much more file formats.
3.A directory on the MemoryStick to store preferences, settings, browser cache, downloaded images and pages,
4. Support for Sun Java and Macromedia Flash Lite. But I doubt that we would see Windows Media Player on the PSP any time soon.
5.A simple POP email client.
6.A simple instant messenger program.
7.A simple RSS reader.
8.PSP MP4 Video Downloads
9.Music Downloads from Sony Connect (Did you know that Sony Connect only works on a Windows machine? That sucks.)
10.A net portal full of gaming goodness such as images, videos and info on future PSP games and stuff.
11.Support for downloaded game demos, add-ons and patches
12.External USB mini-keyboards
13.An iCal and Mozilla Sunbird compatible day planner calender
14.A LDIF compatible address book
15.A simple file manager to handle downloaded content without having to connect to a PC
16.Support for accessing content and communication with other locally networked PSPs.
All of these could be done in software on the existing Sony PSP hardware and Sony should use already developed Internet standards rather than spending money researching their own proprietary Internet formats. Basically anything the Sega Dreamcast can do on the net the PSP should be able to do better. I still think the Dreamcast was years a head of it's time and it died an early unnecessary death. Besides South Korea is getting a PSP web browser disk. They are not going to keep it over there forever.
Sure there is some cool non-game features on the PSP but the whole goal of the PSP is to sell lots and lots of games and movies in UMD media and make lots of money of game publishing for the PSP. I mean other stuff is cool but it's only goal is to sell games. And oh boy will it ever.
My favorite PSP hack is using an Altoids mint can to store up to five UMD disks.
Jake at April 8, 2005 
Games
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Comments
The PSP hack pales compared to the Smint DS game holder ( http://homepage.mac.com/jimyounkin/PhotoAlbum15.html )
Posted by: Matt at April 8, 2005 2:38 AM
I use an old Sony Minidisk case to hold all my Ninteno DS games. There are not a lot of the... Come on Nintedo we need more good DS games.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at April 8, 2005 10:12 AM
I agree 100% that the PSP needs more online features. If they do eventually integrate a good browser/planner/mail prog/word proc then I will buy one in an instant. It would be fantastic to have a killer game/media player and have all the functions of a PDA as well.
Right now though, I just can't justify spending 250 on a handheld game machine. I'm sure that if all of the PDAesque features were put in place then they'd have a serious DS killer on their hands and could easily target the "executive" market.
And I must agree Jake, the Dreamcast died much too soon. It's still one of my favorite consoles.
Posted by: snortin_php at April 8, 2005 10:56 AM
Well the PSP is cheaper than the PS2, Xbox and Sega Saturn when they first came out. Most Wifi enabled PDAs start at 300 anyway but the PSP is all about really really kick ass handheld games.
I don't think they could get the Executive market. that is dominated by $600 Network PDA smart phone things but they could rule at the gamer nerd market.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at April 8, 2005 11:47 AM
Well, I didn't make myself too clear in the previous post. When I said the executive market, I meant business men who travel quite often. This would be great for someone who is constantly flying on business trips. They could watch a flick, listen to some music, do some work or play a game. I certainly wouldn't expect to see the PSP take a large share of the PDA market, but it would be nice to have all of those functions in one small machine.
Posted by: snortin_php at April 9, 2005 5:12 AM
USB keyboard...what about external controllers via USB? Hmm...perhaps mini-controllers...mini steering wheel, mini gun, etc...
Posted by: ironklad at April 11, 2005 1:13 PM
Light Guns don't work on LCD screens or projection screens. Driving games rock on the PSP's mini-analog stick. Ridge Racers and Wipeout Pure is a joyous experiance
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at April 11, 2005 2:13 PM
I dont have a psp but i am going to get one tomaorrow i wanted to make sure that it is a good bye and that i am not going to get ripped off if i buy i but i dont think that that is the case at all it is the best handheld game ever
Posted by: a smart kid at November 17, 2005 6:53 PM
Listen guys i just got my psp and i scratch the screen just alittle bit. This only happened because there was dirt on my cleaning cloths and it scratched. If you get a psp take care of it and the screen cause the damn screen will get scratch. Very easily. Fragile handel with care
Posted by: cj at July 21, 2006 10:47 PM
